Welcome/Welcome back, you crazy diamonds!

[spiritcrystal]

[An island! This is most certainly not where everyone was just a few moments ago. ...Alright, maybe some of you were on an island. Don't get cheeky.

At everyone's feet is a small note. It gives no description of their location or explanation, of course; it only says one simple thing.

Please choose one.

The note comes along with three Pokéballs with different "starter" Pokémon in them- the three Pokémon can be anything, from a Froakie, Charmander, and Treecko to a Rattata, Patrat, and Bidoof if you're particularly unlucky- and everything in between. If it's not a legendary Pokémon, it's fair game.

Of course, you can only pick one! Trying to go for a second will leave you thinking that you better not get too greedy. If you're one of those types that wouldn't care either way, the other two Pokéballs will simply disappear.

Now go forth, and into a world of Pokémon!]

Comments

[betabangs]

[Oh... She stares at Ekans and crosses her arms, tilting her head from one side to the other while she looks at it. That's so, so sad! She knows she wouldn't just want to be used to poison other people -- or, er, Pokémon, she guesses.

Blue sighs. Her choice isn't easily made, it seems.]

This is still really hard!!! [Turning around! Hello, eleven year old counselor.] Nidoran's really, really cute, and Bulbasaur's really, really cute too, and Ekans has a really, really sad story... So...!

[strongsilent]

[Wow she's kind of cute.]

Well... You can catch Nidoran and Ekans pretty easily, but I've never seen a Bulbasaur in the wild before.

[betabangs]

[Then she could add them to her team later on! But...]

Won't the Nidoran and Ekans here be really sad that they didn't get chosen?

[strongsilent]

[She really cared about that... That's really nice. Ah.]

I'm sure they'd be a little disappointed, but you might be able to meet them again in the wild. It kinda ends up that way. [It's why he has so many Pokémon himself, even though he only wanted to have Squirtle.]

[betabangs]

[She knows what it's like to be alone and unchosen]

And I might never meet Bulbasaur again, huh... [She kneels down to stare at the Pokéballs, then takes Bulbasaur's. She sighs when the other two disappear though; she really, really wanted to be their friend, too.

Saddest 10 year old tbh. But! Manners! She looks up and Red and grins, holding Bulbasaur's ball tightly.] Thanks for your help!

[strongsilent]

[Wow.]

I just remembered how hard it was for me to choose my first Pokémon. [And he hasn't regretted Toiser since. Yeah. Um.] I'm sure you're gonna meet them again. I'm... I'm Red.

[Half hoping she doesn't know his name, since she doesn't seem to recognize his face.]

[betabangs]

[Nothing is sacred tbh]

It's nice to meet you, Red! [Nope, no recognition here.] I'm Blue!

[Feel the optimism and joy, Red. She is full of it.]

[strongsilent]

[... Blue is a common name. How nice. He'll connect this smiling girl with it, since his best friend rival jerk is, well, the descriptors say as much.]

Likewise. Ah... Do you know what we can do if we don't want to take one of these Pokémon? It's no offense to them or anything, but...

[Gesturing behind himself at the awaiting, if eager, three balls. There's a choice between a Timburr, a Purrlion, or a Solosis. They're all very funny looking Pokémon that his Dex don't register at all.]

[betabangs]

[They're so weird looking... Blue crosses her arms and frowns, tilting her head to the side.]

It looks like they really, really want to go with you though... Why don't you want to take one?

[She's just curious!]

[strongsilent]

[Mumble mumble.] ... I'm not really into the whole collecting Pokémon quest the Professor sent me on. I just kinda wanna do my own thing.

[So, he doesn't have anything he didn't buy, revive, was given... Except for one Pokémon but she's his special exception.]

[betabangs]

[Oh...]

Um... Don't think of it as collecting a Pokémon for Mr. Oak! Just think of it as making new friends.

[strongsilent]

[...

...]

... Okay. In that case, I guess... This one. [Purrloin!! Kitty kitty.

Now if only he knew for sure what it was. It's purring loudly through its ball though, from what he can hear, so... Purrer. Yeah.]

[betabangs]

[Kitty kitty!]

It seems like it likes you a lot too! That's great, Red! [Hee!!] I'm happy for you! I hope the other two aren't too sad over not being chosen though...

[strongsilent]

[They seem disappointed, but otherwise okay. And they disappear after a bit too.]

I think they'll be fine. Someone else'll probably choose them. [Heheheh. Purrer likes him. She's happy for him. Heheh.]

[betabangs]

[Then someone might definitely choose the Ekans or the Nidoran she didn't... Okay!]

Let's meet your Pokémon! Can we? [She... wants to know how to let out her Bulbasaur additionally so coaxing Red into letting his out will help her understand.]

[strongsilent]

[Oh, sure. He nods and presses the button on Purrer's ball to let the kitty out, and jumps a little at the immediate overly loud purr and rubbing against his legs.]

He's, ah, very friendly.

[Purrer moves from Red's legs to Blue's next, sneakily looking for anything he can snatch.]

[betabangs]

[She's got nothing, kitty! Except the Pokéball she's studying -- oh, there's the button! And there's Bulbasaur.

...aaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH]

W-What's wrong, Bulbasaur? [It's shaking like a leaf! Ha. And frantically looking for a place to... hide... flat on the ground, plant, and covering its face.] ... U-Um...

[strongsilent]

[... Purrer sees an easy target, excuse him.

Hello there, leafy. Mind a purring cat to rub against you-- Oh nevermind, Red's coming down to see Bulbasaur and slide his hand across the ground to it. It's okay. Hi.]

Looks like a shy one... That's okay. I'm sure it'll open up to you.

[betabangs]

[Bulbasaur sniffs it cautiously... But he covers his face again anyway. Sorry, Red.]

I hope so. I wanna be the very best of friends with Bulbasaur! [Emphasis with a hug to its bulb! Which goes about as well as you expect - another cry and all - so Blue backs off again. Oh...] ... I guess it'll take more than that, huh...

[strongsilent]

[That's fine, he gives Bulbasaur a comforting pat as he nods. Purrer sill observe.]

You have to understand Bulbasaur's feelings. Though... I have an idea that might make him feel more comfortable. [Okay, let's let both of them meet Plumer, his sole exception to the collection thing. But she had a purpose at the time.

Hello there, small bulb and child.]

[betabangs]

[Oh wow!! So cute, oh wow!]

She's really, really pretty! [Hi, Plumer! Bulbasaur puts down one of his legs and stares at the Vileplume. Another plant, like him...] It's nice to meet you, um... It's a Vileplume, right? That's what Oddish gets to evolve to.

[strongsilent]

[Plumer will plop right down and pat Bulbasaur's head. Yes, we are both plants. Would you stand up?]

Uh huh. Her name's Plumer. She was the first and only Pokémon I've ever caught, and she's pretty motherly.

[betabangs]

[Yes, he will. Somewhat shakily. So, uh... Hi...]

That's good. You kind of seem like the kind of guy who needs someone to remind him when to eat and sleep. [Well then, more formerly:] I'm Blue, and it's really nice to meet you, Plumer! This is Bulbasaur, and he's a scaredy plant!



[yes yes he is ahahaha...]

[strongsilent]

[... Does he really come off as that kind of guy...? That's troubling. Look at his trouble face.

Plumer bows her petals down in response, then rubs the Bulbasaur's bulb. Aren't you cute! So cute. Why are you so shy, little guy?]

[betabangs]

[Oh, no.] It just means, uh... You're really, really hard working?

[He was just born this way?? Also, uh. This island isn't familiar to him either. He's just as lost as his new trainer is.]